The community contributions made by Minnesota nonprofit and government hospitals and health systems in 2010 totaled more than $3.4 billion, an increase of almost 6 percent compared to 2009, according to the latest Community Benefit Report released by the Minnesota Hospital Association.

The overall increase is largely due to double-digit growth in charity care, which jumped up dramatically by 27 percent from 2009 to 2010. The new data provide evidence that economic challenges bring greater pressure on health care providers, yet hospitals and health systems continue to face those challenges with a spirit of caring and a commitment to improving Minnesotans’ health.

“As nonprofits, hospitals and health systems go above and beyond to make numerous and powerful community contributions, and most of those contributions stay local,” said Lawrence Massa, President and CEO of the Minnesota Hospital Association. “One of the main ways hospitals contribute to their community is by providing high quality health care to our patients, regardless of their ability to pay, and by leading efforts to improve care and lower costs.”

About $1.17 billion of the total was spent on community and health services, education and healthcare workforce development, research, community building activities and cash, in-kind donations to other local nonprofits. In addition, a substantial and growing proportion of hospitals’ community contributions is from providing care without getting paid.

This uncompensated care includes “charity care,” for patients from whom there is no expectation of payment, and “bad debt,” the result of patients who cannot or did not pay their share of the hospital bill. Uncompensated care as a whole totaled $496.5 million in 2010, an increase of about 4 percent from 2009 to 2010.

Another significant driver of hospitals’ community contributions is the difference between the actual cost of providing care and the payments received from caring for Medicare and Medicaid patients. The report details that state and federal government payments to Minnesota hospitals and health systems for these programs were more than $1.3 billion below the actual costs of providing the care.

In all, such government underfunding accounts for nearly 7 percent of Minnesota hospitals’ total operating expenses. The 2011 Community Benefit Report reflects 2010 financial information – the most recent data available, self-reported by Minnesota hospitals and health care systems and supplemented with data reported to the Minnesota Department of Health.

The annual report comprises an analysis of categories of community contribution activities on a statewide and regional basis. Community contributions range from supporting the education and training of tomorrow’s healthcare workforce and medical research to public health activities and community outreach programs, such as health screenings and immunization clinics.

In addition, hospitals and health systems play a crucial role in the economic health of Minnesota’s communities. As the largest employers in most communities, Minnesota hospitals generated $27.2 billionin economic activity for the state and supported more than 214,000 jobs in 2009, according to a study conducted by the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development.

“Minnesota’s hospitals are a tremendous asset for their communities, serving as nation-leading health care providers, community leaders and economic drivers,” added Massa. “It is important that Minnesotans continue to support their hospitals so together we can continue to advance our communities and improve Minnesotans’ health.”

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ClearWay Minnesota (SM), in partnership with ECHO Minnesota, has produced a unique television program warning that secondhand smoke should remain a public health priority for Minnesotans – particularly among Minnesota’s ethnic communities.

Secondhand Smoke in Our Communities will air on public television stations across Minnesota, as well as online, beginning January 15, 2012. Each program will feature guests from Minnesota’s ethnic communities with a goal of helping all Minnesotans understand the dangers of exposure to secondhand smoke. The program will be broadcast in eight languages, including English, Spanish, Hmong, Somali, Karen, Vietnamese, Lao and Khmer.

“Secondhand smoke is harmful to all Minnesotans’ health, but diverse communities experience some of the greatest harm,” said David Willoughby, Chief Executive Officer of ClearWay Minnesota. “Tobacco companies use clever marketing practices to make their dangerous products attractive to these communities. This program offers a distinct way to tell the story of tobacco’s impact in all Minnesota and to educate the specific populations that are most at-risk.”

Tobacco companies spent nearly $200 million in Minnesota in 2008, targeting people based on factors including income, education level, ethnic background or lifestyle. The report Unfiltered: A Revealing Look at Today’s Tobacco Industry gave examples of minority-directed tobacco advertising, and showed that rates of tobacco use among some ethnic communities are greatly outpacing those of the general and Caucasian populations.

Additionally, rates of quitting tobacco use can be substantially lower in these communities. ”The impact of tobacco is regressive,” said Willoughby, “with our ethnic and low-income populations facing disproportionate risk.” ”ECHO Minnesota’s television program provides a unique venue for bringing important health information to ethnic communities,” said Lillian McDonald, Executive Director of ECHO Minnesota.

“Many Minnesotans who speak limited or no English may be unaware of the dangers of secondhand smoke and tobacco use in general. We are pleased to help bridge that information gap.” Nationwide, secondhand smoke is responsible for more than 40,000 deaths in nonsmokers each year from cancer and heart disease. Secondhand smoke contains 11 known cancer-causing poisons and even more toxins.

“Tobacco’s impact and health risks do not discriminate – but tobacco companies’ marketing efforts do,” Willoughby said. “We need to continue strong public policy efforts together with tobacco prevention and smoking cessation services in the communities targeted most by tobacco companies. Partnering withECHO Minnesota provides an invaluable opportunity to protect the health of all Minnesotans.”

Secondhand Smoke in Our Communities is 20-30 minutes in length. It will air on tpt’s Minnesota Channel (Comcast Channel 202 or 243, depending on location) and is available any time for streaming at www.echominnesota.org. The broadcast schedule is as follows:

• Jan. 15 at 7 p.m. in English – Guests: Betsy Brock, Association for Nonsmokers, and Cathy Stephens, LAAMPP Fellow
• Jan. 15 at 7:30 p.m. in Spanish – Guest: Patricia Baker, LAAMPP Fellow
• Jan. 22 at 7 p.m. in Hmong – Guest: Thomas Yang, STEEP Project
• Jan. 22 at 7:20 p.m. in Somali – Guests: Mohamed Mohamud, Confederation of Somali Community in Minnesota, and Saeed Fahia, Executive Director of Confederation of Somali Community in Minnesota
• Jan. 22 at 7:40 p.m. in Karen – Guests: Rom Touy, Cambodian Health Educator, and Tonara Hing, St. Joseph’s Bethesda
• Jan. 29 at 7 p.m. in Vietnamese – Guests: Hien Nguyen, STEEP Project, and Tam Do, LAAMPP Fellow
• Jan. 29 at 7:20 p.m. in Lao – Guests: Monemany Daoheuang, STEEP Project, and Sunny Chanthanouvong, Executive Director of Lao Assistance Center of Minnesota
• Jan. 29 at 7:40 p.m. in Khmer – Guests: Misecal Htway, First Karen Baptist Church, and Saysay Eh, First Karen Baptist Church

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